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About 70 monkeys escape from zoo in Chiba Prefecture

23 Comments

About 70 monkeys escaped from their enclosure at Takagoyama Shizen Zoo in Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture, on Wednesday. According to reports, the primates managed to flee by going through a hole torn open in their cage. 

One of the zoo caretakers contacted police at around 7:30 a.m. to report that the monkeys had escaped. The cage’s wire mesh appeared to be cut by metal shears, and the circular hole measured approximately 40 cm in height and 30 cm in width, Sankei Shimbun reported.

Zoo officials said the monkeys are believed to be in the vicinity, but none have been seen. They will continue to leave food in the area in an attempt to recapture them. 

After Typhoon Faxai hit the region last September, the metal fences were toppled, which enabled the monkeys to escape. Most of the monkeys that escaped then were eventually recaptured.

Futtsu City has been outsourcing the management of the city-run zoo to a contractor.

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23 Comments
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This is where it starts. They will hole up in the jungle and plot the overthrow of humanity.

37 ( +37 / -0 )

This is where it starts. They will hole up in the jungle and plot the overthrow of humanity.

I laughed!

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Is Planet of the Apes on Netflix?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Are the monkeys self-isolating?

17 ( +18 / -1 )

The cage’s wire mesh appeared to be cut by metal shears...

Let's hope they've checked the integrity of the tiger's cage.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

I like this line

"Most of the monkeys that escaped then were eventually recaptured."

"Most"....so where are they? And how many?

Brilliant job monkeys living on the run for that long. Good luck to the latest.

can see it now dozens of people running around with huge butterfly nets.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

The Takagoyama Shizen (Nature) Zoo, while in natural surrounds hardly is the epitome of a "Nature Park".

I'm sure the staff are kind and interested in the well being of the monkeys in their care, but such places exist primarily for the amusement of paying visitors.

Yes - some important work is being done to prevent the demise of this species - the Japanese Macaque - from breeding with the Rhesus Macaque an invasive species from Asia which is taking over large forested areas.

In the past, such break outs have resulted in the eventual euthanizing of offspring because they're the result of cross-breeding with the "alien" species. These stories never headline on the nhk 7:00pm news.

The mass caging of primates - and other animals - is from bygone days and needs to be phased out.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Whoever cut that hole in the fence (shown on TV) left some sharp jagged wire ends. The motive cannot have been compassion alone.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Wow even monkeys want to run away !!!!!!.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

The cage’s wire mesh appeared to be cut by metal shears

Its not so much the fact that a bunch of monkeys escaped, but more that a bunch of monkeys capable of utilizing metal shears escaped that concerns me.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Are the monkeys self-isolating?

They have masks on no doubt. It is monkey peer pressure.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It would be fun to have an automatic tranquilizer gun and get them as they came out. BraP PAP PAP PAP!!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

TARA TAN KITAOKAToday  03:31 pm JST

Wow even monkeys want to run away !!!!!!.

They didn't run away from Japan if that's wat you're implying.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

It is inevitable that there will be monkeys that will not be caught or caught after mating with wild monkeys.

Researching the monkeys that are brought back pregnant would be interesting enough. But finding out what happened to monkeys that did not come back would both more difficult and more interesting.

Monkeys live in tribes. How would a zoo monkey join a wild monkey tribe? How much would learned behavior in the zoo affect a potential wild monkey tribe applicant? Would there a monkey version of a university entrance exam? Also monkeys are as various as people. All happy monkeys are alike but each unhappy monkey is unhappy in its own way. Would the unhappy monkeys try to get back to the zoo?

There is a Nobel Prize awaiting anyone wishing to tackle this.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I hate zoos. I hate to see animals in cages.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"The cage’s wire mesh appeared to be cut by metal shears". Yes, they have been watching, and now they are capable of using human tools.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Freedom! Anyhow, I don´t understand why they need to have monkeys in zoos here. Aren´t there plenty of places in Japan where they are free in nature? I even remember 2 years ago there was one who hitched a ride into Shibuya on a train roof and kept the news busy for a week.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

anyone had the 12 MONKEYS Movie came to mind??

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Its not so much the fact that a bunch of monkeys escaped, but more that a bunch of monkeys capable of utilizing metal shears escaped that concerns me.

LOL yeah, however in this case I suspect the inmates had some outside help...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Oh dear me! Too many Monkeys escaped and now it's Monkey businesses for Police. Watch out everyone in Chiba, they may visit your kitchen in the midnight.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

FREEDOM at last, good for them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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